Connector



March 17, 1942. G. D. ROGERS 2,276,344

` GONNEVCTOR Filed April 18, 1941 l NVENTOR EEDD e D Hngera l B* WW-hmATTORNEY Patented Mar. 1 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONNECTORGeorge D. Rogers, United states Army, -Washingtom D. C.

Application April 18, 1941, Serial No. 389,190 i claim. '(ol. ss-s) Theinvention described herein may be4 manufactured and used by or for theGovernment for governmental purposes, without the payment to me'of anyroyalty thereon. v

This invention relates to devices of the type used for temporarilysecuring together articles such as plates preparatory to the riveting orother permanent fastening thereof.

This invention has as an object the provision of an improved device foraligning and securing holed plates to each other.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a connector which canbe operated with one hand in restricted spaces and in spaces where theback of the work to be secured is inaccessible.

Another object of the invention isto provide ka connector having meansto secure positive alignment of the parts to be connected.

A- still further object of the invention is to produce a connector bymeans of which-connecting pressure can be applied symmetrically aboutthe periphery of the holes in the plates for securing the plates to beconnected without distortion or straining thereof.

` The specic natureof the invention as well as other objects` andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device of this application.

Figure12 is a vertical section of the device aty one stage of itsoperation taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 taken at another stage inthe operation of the device. A

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bolt member.

The connector comprises a bolt member 3 hollow for the greater portionof its length and adapted to be inserted through apertures 4 and 5formed respectively in plates 6 and 1. The bolt member 3 is splitlongitudinally from its lower end to allow for expansion and providedwith an enlarged head 8 having shoulders 9 adapted to engage the surfaceof the plate l surrounding the aperture 5. The bolt member is providedat its other eng with a-flange I0 adapted to'engage a spring II. 'Ihelongitudinal expansion splits above referred to are formed by aplurality of radial cuts extending longitudinally from the head end tonear the anged end as best seen in Figure 4. The upper portion of theange I0 mental setting members I2 for apurpose as will ating surfaces 20and 2|.

hereinafter appear.

The bolt member is contained in a case I3 having a base I4 adapted toengage the upper surface of the plate 6 and having an aperture I5through which the head 8 protrudes. Between the flange I0 and base I4 isinserted a spring II tending to draw the head 8 within the case I3. Atits upper portion the case I3 is provided with a cover I6 havingapertures I1 formed therein for the reception of the segmental settingymembers I2. The cover may be secured to the casev4 in any suitablemanner which will provide a flange I8 extending beyond the outer surfaceof .the case. The cover IIv is also centrally provided with an inwardlyextending pin I9 inserted into the axial passage in the boltl member 3.The pin I9 is provided at its lower end with a tapering portion 29adapted to engage cooperating surfaces 2| at the lower end of the axialpassage in the bolt member. As the bolt member is drawn within thecasing under the iniluence of the spring, the tapering portion of thepin will expand the split shank of the bolt member owing to the wedgeaction between cooper- The relative dimensions of the parts to besecured govern the length and diameter of the bolt member and expandingpin.

The connector-ls applied in practice by grasping it with a special tool2 which engages the flange I8 and the setting members I2 as shown inFig.1 and serves to compress the spring II'.

Owing to the resiliency of the material of which the bolt member isconstructed the head 8 will .contract to its minimum diameter and inthisA condition it is inserted into the holes 4 and 5 in the plates 8and 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Upon removal of the tool2 the head 8 will beexpanded, as shown in Fig. 3, serving to properly align the holes andthe shoulders 9 will on engaging the surface of the plate il serve todraw it firmly into contact with plate 6. This contact will bemaintained at spring pressure untilthe connector is 5 withdrawn andwhile the plates are thus temporarily secured permanent fastening meansmay be inserted in adjacent holes which likewise will have been drawninto alignment or necessary plate fitting operations may be .carriedout. The device may be removed by vagain grasping it with the tool 2 andrecompressing the spring upon which the head will contract and can bereadily withdrawn from the work.

It is to be understood that the form of my 1nis provided with two ormore upstanding segvention specifically shown and described is to betaken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in thesize and arrangement oi parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of my invention as described in the appended claim.

I claim: A device for securing superposed perforated plates comprising abolt member having a head on one end, said bolt memberhaving a pluralityof radial cuts extending longitudinally from the head end to near theopposite end and a spring engaging ange formed on said last mentionedend, an axial passage in said bolt member intersectingthe radial cutsand extending to the end opposite the head, upstanding setting members.

for the .passage of said setting members, and a wedge member secured tosaid cover and thereby supported in the anal passage, said wedge memberbeing adapted to cause the head to expand radially.

` GEORGE D. ROGERS.

